Well, squeeze it if you can, I don't have gigantic hands, so I won't be squeezing this one. I don't understand how come one of the best selling phones in the world (iPhone 7) doesn't have a similar sized competitor in the Android world.
"A clear case will be provided in the box." Yeah, because we have created yet another incredible phone that is so nice that you have to keep it behind a plastic/silicone case if you don't want it to break. So why bother? Oh, and the case also adds a few more millimeters to an already large phone. Just great!
I suspect the case is so it doesn't get covered in fingerprints. I saw in the lab tour that each unit goes through a 30 second 30cm tumble test (about 20 spins) while some units from each batch do the harder version (1m tumble) to ensure consistency.
The case part of the comment applies to every single flagship (and not only) on the market. Manufacturers do their best to make the phone as this, shiny, and fragile as possible in the name of design. Then you have to slap on a case to make the phone grippy enough, usable, to protect the very fragile backs and screens, etc. Maybe it's all in the name of fighting for the numbers ("now even thinner!"), for the striking feature ("look, we made a glass phone, like Cinderella's shoe!"), and to motivate you to upgrade since the tiny batteries burn through their allotted charge cycles in maximum 2 years.
Cases allow people to personalize the design. Thin allows the cases to add a few mm without the result being too thick. Shiny design allows the case to have cutouts at various points (if that's what you want) to show the shininess.
None of this is a mystery if your starting point is "what do customers want" rather than "I am smarter than every cellphone company and almost every cell phone buyer, and they are all stupid morons who should care only about what I want".
You do make a good point but I would suggest that making a phone that, by design, needs a case (to the point where it ships with one) is a little excessive. I would also suggest that phone manufacturers should perhaps focus on durability before design and if you want a pretty looking phone you should get a cheaper pretty looking case that can get damaged without costing the earth to replace rather than being almost mandated to get one if you don't want it to shatter on its first interaction with the floor.
I'm sure that HTC have gone with what their market research shows and you're probably correct that most people want a pretty phone. Unfortunately these are the same people who walk around with an iPhone with a shattered front / back panel. I would say that the majority of iPhone owners I know have cracks in their devices due to this obsession with glass and "ooh, shiny shiny".
You would not make a car which shattered on its first bump with a lamp post - indeed most cars have cheap, easily replaceable bumpers because it's a known hazard and is easily designed around. Dropping a phone from a height of 5 feet is a known, obvious hazard associated with normal use and they should be designing around this as they would a switch needing to be actuated a certain number of times in it's useful life.
These phones don't NEED cases. But if you're especially picky about dust, fingerprints, and scratches, get a case. I didn't use a case for my iPhone 6+. And got only one small nick in the two years I got it before trading it in for a 7+, for which I did buy a clear case, but mostly because the case has a small leg you can pop out to see videos and stuff horizontally, which is easier than propping it up on something. I may not keep the case on all the time, eventually.
And I would say I've used an iPhone since the first version, always worn them on a belt clip with front glass exposed, dropped more than a few from three - four feet to concrete or asphalt (I don't generally hold them up to my head in the five to six foot range) and has never cracked one, and have rarely (maybe once) ever gotten a scratch on the display. And no one I know has a cracked iPhone, and I have six on my plan alone.
That would be like saying, "All these coffee-table companies are making sharp corners, but then you have to slap foam on all the sharp edges so that when you smack your head on them you won't kill yourself!" I don't use a case, so I just don't drop my phone. It's been working pretty well for me.
I don't understand how the iPhone SE doesn't have a competitor either. With everyone making near identical phones you would think someone would try and differentiate themselves and make a small high spec phone. I know Sony tried but they had a terrible reputation for shattering.
Sony's Xperia Compact range are generally excellent alternatives to smaller phones like the iPhone SE. Although they unfortunately degraded the latest model (X Compact) to a mid-range rather than flagship-range (hardware wise) phone, they're still very good - and even with Sony's large bezels (for the Android world) they have bigger screens for the device size than any iPhone. They're a thicker than iPhones, but for a <5" device, I see that as a plus (better ergonomics). I'm just hoping for a follow-up this year with a SD835 or 660 inside that also brings back IP certification (which the X compact somehow lost) - that would make some truly great phones.
Despite having a 6-series Snapdragon, the Snapdragon 652 ironically had a better processor than its nearest competitors. 2x (I think, maybe 4x?) A72 cores is nothing to sneeze at, particularly given that Qualcomm is currently shipping 2xA73 (slightly modified) cores as a flagship, and A72 vs A73 is considered, on the whole, as a sidegrade.
Dude, always better to just openly admit your mistake than just try and erase it. I have far more respect for people who can admit they don't know but will find out or admit they misunderstood something. One takes balls and leads to personal enrichment, the other is the coward's way out.
Correction: when it's clearly not what some consumers want. Many do want the big screens and its benefits. I'm not saying the people wanting smaller phones wouldn't be relvant, but don't forget about the other group either.
Seems that <5" has half, if not a little more, of the market. So it's weird that no-one but Sony makes Android phones that compete in half the market.
Perhaps if Apple made the SE and the non-Plus models 5" everyone would just buy them regardless. But the SE users I know bought theirs specifically for the trimmer sizes (all women, incidentally).
You realize small, cheap phones sell because of their price. The ultra value end of the phone industry is of course the largest market and a larger screen costs a few bucks more which is a large margin on such a cut-rate phone that costs <$50-100 or is given away free.
People don't say, damn... I wish I had a smaller screen! They say damn, I wish I had more money for a nicer phone.
Indeed. It's literally the only reason we have one in my household. My son wanted an iPhone, but being pretty hard on phones we got him the cheapest one we could get until he proves he can be responsible with it. He HATES how small it is. Wife has a 6S+, daughter has a 6S, I have a Note. I don't see the "everyone wants a smaller phone".. I don't know anyone that does.
Yup, it'd be nice to see smaller screens on smaller phones getting higher end specifications, but I think Anandtech's phone reviews present a skewed view of the mobile market. The site naturally gets vendor information for flagship products and passes that information along to readers, but less profitable mass market devices aren't as exciting, don't generate as much profit, and therefore don't get much attention from reviewers like AT. Fortunately, if you're not seeking high-end specs beneath a small screen, you can do pretty well by just diving to the cheap rack when it comes to picking up a handset. Two weeks ago I finally replaced an ancient single core, 3.2" screen LG Optimus V with a $30 USD Alcatel Pixi Unite and I'm relatively satisfied with the purchase. It's got 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage, a MicroSD slot, a 4 inch 480x800 screen, all powered by a 1.3GHz A7 quad with a user-replacable battery. It's good enough for light mobile computing and a lot more capable than my old Optimus (though I did end up disabling a lot of Google preloaded crapware and I'm disappointed I can't root the thing so I can delete the .apks for stuff I don't want like Google search, Hangouts, the Movie Player thingy, and other totally creep-show data mining stuff). Paired with my bluetooth keyboard and game controller, it's a much better lightweight PC replacement than the LG. Anyhow, if your needs are reasonable, a cheap phone will get the job done, fit in pockets and handbags instead of hip holsters that make you look like a techno-dork, and save you a bucket of money since handsets aren't subsidized these days.
"the rush to large *Android* phones is something of a mystery" - Not sure what you mean there. 5.2 to 5.5 inch phones seem to be what is selling well. Even Apple sells loads of 5.5 inch iPhones and Apple 5.5 inch screen phones are as large as other manufacturers 6+ inch phones.
5.2 to 5.5 is large. The only reason I have a 5.2 phone is because smaller phones don't come with as good internals. I want a nice, thick 5" phone with a big battery and flagship components but nobody makes one.
Large phones are exactly what I and everyone I know wants. I actually have never met a single person in the real world who says "I want a small phone". Seriously. I wonder where these people exist except for online tech forums...
If you want smaller check out the Sony X compact - actually pretty comparable to the iPhone 7 in a lot of metrics (screen size/resolution, weight).
The S8 is actually only 1mm wider than the iPhone 7 - arguably the metric that affects usage most I'd say (though I have pretty big hands and am waiting for a manufacturer other than Samsung to create a big phone with small bezels)
I have been using my new S8 for about one month now. I don't think I will ever consider a phone with "large" top and bottom bezels. The day-to-day experience is incredible on the new phone, and a look at the U11 is sufficient to label it "irrelevant", for me. My first smartphone was an HTC Sensation. I really enjoyed it, but six year later HTC's phones look almost the same.
Daaaaamn! Forget the squeeze, it looks good. So good in fact, that despite me being absolutely angry at HTC for donning 3.5mm jack, I'm tempted to get in the queue for one. Shame on HTC for not going qi this time... again.
From what I understand Qualcomm has had some issues with QC4 hence the current crop of SD835 devices are QC3 only. I'm not sure if software can do anything as I'm not sure if the necessary hardware is there (such as the latest power IC) or if the hardware has been delayed until now. They recently announced availability of QC4 but that doesn't help phones already in production.
Neither S7 or S8 have support for QC3 even. They rely on proprietary Samsung fast charging tech but do have support for QC2 (I guess it's for third party accessories mainly). So S8: QC2 + Samsung fast charging. HTC U11, Sony Xperia XZ Premium and Xiaomi Mi 6 have QC3. How Samsung's fast charging stacks up vs QC, Dash Charge etc I don't know.
I personally hates changes specially for things we're used to use/do. but sometimes changes are required to move forward. like the change from 32bit to 64bit OS, change from pre-Android/iOS to these two guys. change from microUSB to Type-C. as long as these changes done in the right way.
but with current removal of 3.5mm jack there's a lot in stack. 1- Type-C headphones are nearly non-exists. 2- Type-C headphones will mean no way to charge the phone. 3- Using regular 3.5mm will mean an adapter required. 4- Charging and using the headphone will always require an adapter which we should carry also. and there's no adapter for this kind of usage -yet-. 5- Wireless Bluetooth headphones doesn't allow lossless audio streaming. the available technologies (AptX, AptX HD & LDAC) are all proprietary (Qualcomm & Sony) and you can't see them everywhere so you can't depend on one, there's very little AptX HD headphones, and while most HiRes Sony headphones support LDAC they lack support for AptX HD.. thankfully Android O will support all these.. but this is only Android. what about iOS, Windows, macOS ?
The point is, no adapter is available now which will make us continue the usage of our phone the way we're used to do. I believe charging cables should have a Type-C + 3.5mm port somewhere in the middle or some how. we will have to live in a transition period where we're forced to either charge or listen.
Moto did it first(?) Anyway, other OEMs didn't *have* to follow anyone... if you don't like HTC doing it, it's on them. Vote with your wallet, I guess!
It is due to many smartphone users don't use the jack which justifies the move. There is nothing we can do for now but to refuse such devices without one.
I would imagine he's correct. I personally use the 3.5mm jack a lot but my girlfriend never touches hers. HTC (and all phone manufacturers) collect detailed usage data and I'm sure that when they started considering the worth of the 3.5mm jack they started collecting data on when it was connected. I can't imagine that they would be quite so daft as to do this on a "general feeling" about the market, copying Apple or even just surveys when they could quite easily gather real world usage data. They know it'll lose them some customers (mad when they spent so much time on the audio of the HTC 10) but I'm sure they balanced this out by quite simply working out the amount of time media was played through speakers Vs the headphone jack, realised they could vastly improve speaker sound (supposedly with the bigger resonance chamber allowed for by the missing jack) and decided that was better.
There's a lot to like here. I like how HTC continually innovate. They have the best microphones and speakers, and that body styling is the nicest I've seen.
But personally those dimensions are too big for me; over 150x70mm and it starts to get uncomfortable in pockets. Those top and bottom bezels are just too big. If only there was a phone combining Samsung's tech with HTC's styling and audio...
I hope it sells well because the world of mobile devices would be poorer without HTC.
HTC truly deserves to go under. They remove the audio jack for no reason at all, aside from crippling their own device.You would think that trying the same with the microSD was a sufficient lesson. Their main problem for years has been design, they just make ugly phones and they did it again. It's shinny but bulky as hell and with an atrocious home button. The squeeze gimmick is pointless. somehow HTC keep going backwards since the One in 2013.
I can't remember the last time I plugged wired speakers or headphones into a device. Bluetooth all the way. I was just sick of snagging cables or having to untangle them all the time.
Most people I know still use wired. Wireless is too prone to problems, has poor battery life, and has overall lower quality, which is really noticeable when the speaker is right next to your ear.
Mainly I don't want to have to charge yet another device. It's gotten ridiculous as it is. Audio quality is lower over bluetooth, and there is a delay that I don't like when watching videos.
Having 3.5mm jack does not prevent you from going bluetooth all the way. But it bothers me seeing that this trend of canceling useful features is picking up the steam. I have a set of headphones everywhere I use the phone (in the office, in bedroom, at work desk at home and quite expensive noisecanceling in my bag for travel). I am about to upgrade my smartphone these days and this trend just took iPhone and HTC out of my purchase consideration.
"They remove the audio jack for no reason at all, aside from crippling their own device." Have you heard the new Boomsound on the U 11? They supposedly are using the body of the phone to act as a resonance chamber. So perhaps they have a reason, and until we see a breakdown of the device, who knows.
All that screen bezel makes this an instant dinosaur. Vacuum metalized glass is not going to do it no matter how much it looks like a gun my dinobot transformer used to have.
Considering no one has produced decent touch rejection (and stupidly used on-screen buttons), plus the increased fragility of thin bezels; I'm going to go with no, all is not better.
All-glass phone needs a case. Can't use a case because the entire premise of the phone is the squeeze. What a dumb product. I LOVE the specs but how foolish could they be?
Ugh, yet another rather samey phone. Phones have become so boring, with very few features to really differentiate them. Even the design elements aren't really that different (yes, a curved display isn't that different; it's a display that's slightly curved).
The 'squeeve' 'buttons' are the only really interesting thing about this, but at least they are something that I would consider different. It's a shame that's about all.
Why can't we have nice phones with 4" anymore. All the phones, even the so called mini versions, are all too big for me to comfortably handle in one hand.
Some 12x6 cm is the maximum to handle and to fit comfortably into the pocket of my trousers.
Make the phone a little thicker if it's about the battery-capacity. No problems there with a phone being 15mm thick, it also makes the whole damn thing more rigid and not as fragile.
Well, I guess aslong as it doesn't die and I get replacement batteries I'll stick to my Lumia 520 forever.
Recently went to Taiwan and shocked at the number of Chinese brand cellphones everyone was using. They're extremely prevalent there due to retail store also being there like Oppo, LeEco, Lenovo, ZTE, etc.
My buddy was a principal engineer at HTC for 5+ years and jumped ship. They're products are vanilla now but they still charge a premium over Chinese phones using similar screens, chips and cameras. They also underpay their staff compared to Samsung/LG. Samsung has a bigger market share in Taiwan than HTC, not good if you can't win on your home turf.
Lame battery, lame gimmicky touchy function that no dev gonna use (if 3d touch fail to catch on, what chance does htc has?) and more importantly unrealistic price. Seems like HTC still fails to get it, their name can't command such a price. I wonder how long they can resist the inevitable though!
Well... ex-squeeeeze me. I want to like this, the M9 was my main squeeze, but the insistence for AI assistants is creeping me out. Might wait for the U12 Squish 'n Squeeze Edition.
I like HTC, had quite a few models, currently HTC10, very happy with it. The new one...same small battery, but no 3.5 and bigger? Why? I like 3.5 because I listen to music while biking, now would need to get another connector. Also with bigger screen the phone will die sooner, given the same sized battery. HTC you fail to impress, you fail to progress, pity.
This one has the SD835 chipset, which has better power efficiency. Just check out the reviews for Samsung S8 vs. S7. Bigger screen size than the previous generation, but still better battery life.
The only failure is your level of knowledge. shinjitsu covered the battery life. It's resolution jumps not screen size that causes the most power usage increase. More pixel = more power from the GPU having to work more. As the resolution is the same as the HTC 10 the increase in power by screen size is negligible. Also, they include a USB C to 3.5mm cable in the box.
I agree the lack of the 3.5mm plug is a downer. However, HTC is including with the U 11 a USB-C to 3.5 converter that actually has an embedded hi-res DAC. This is intriguing because it's not a cheap and simple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle. The integrated DAC allows it to be used with other phones too.
So now I have to buy an external USB dongle for every set of my headphones (for gym, home, etc), because I am sure I will forget to carry the dongle on me on the time.
Max, target audience for this phone is obviously not active people that go to gym. I actually do not know who are the target audience for this phone. If you care about the looks you will probably be bothered by the big size. Design seems to appeal to females but it is too big for their hands. It seems to me that idea was to be different and to impress technology challenged customers in the showroom.
bogda, I think the target audience for this phone is the same as the other flagships.
For tech savvy types like us, it's the 835 SOC, what appears to be pretty decent camera and the 24bit audio support.
For the less tech savvy, it's being waterproof at IP67, the pretty glass exterior, and the squeeze function that's at the moment novel. For example, I'd set it to trigger camera/shot, so that under water or when snowboarding I can easily take a shot without removing gear/gloves.
For the audio nerds/philes like me, it's the 24bit audio support, and the USB-C to 3.5mm dongle with built-in DAC, the included USB-C headphone with active noise cancellation, and the improved external speakers using the chassis as the resonance chamber.
It's not perfect, but then again no phone is. I prefer metal/high quality plastic as chassis material for durability, but the current trend is glass so oh well... don't drop 'em!
I seem to remember reading somewhere that whilst a standard USB-C to 3.5mm dongle will be included, the one with the posh DAC will be an optional extra and only "available", not in the box.
I expect this will weigh heavily on some purchase considerations.
Yeah I know, I am not defending the removal of the 3.5mm plug. I think it's a dumbass move.
It appears they claim to have used the extra space for better built-in speakers (whole chassis as resonance chamber), and reviews everywhere so far back this up, saying it's louder with fuller freq response compared to the HTC 10 and rest of the flagship devices.
I like the idea of answering a call or launching camera to take picture with just one-handed action, so the squeeze concept does seem interesting, but the lack of headphone jack is a disappointment. Apple does have enough clout to force users to buy its expensive wireless earbuds, but what's in it for companies like HTC? I don't know.
It's exciting to see a unique new smart phone from HTC. The internals are more or less the same as any other Android flagship but the design is different, like the Eris.
I´m owning an HTC U11 and unfortunately this device is not compliant in my country. In order to be approved, I need technical information (specially the FCC ID of this device). Does anyone know how or where to find this information?. I have tried to touch base with HTC but I have no answer.
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nirolf - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Well, squeeze it if you can, I don't have gigantic hands, so I won't be squeezing this one. I don't understand how come one of the best selling phones in the world (iPhone 7) doesn't have a similar sized competitor in the Android world."A clear case will be provided in the box." Yeah, because we have created yet another incredible phone that is so nice that you have to keep it behind a plastic/silicone case if you don't want it to break. So why bother? Oh, and the case also adds a few more millimeters to an already large phone. Just great!
Ian Cutress - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I suspect the case is so it doesn't get covered in fingerprints. I saw in the lab tour that each unit goes through a 30 second 30cm tumble test (about 20 spins) while some units from each batch do the harder version (1m tumble) to ensure consistency.close - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
The case part of the comment applies to every single flagship (and not only) on the market. Manufacturers do their best to make the phone as this, shiny, and fragile as possible in the name of design. Then you have to slap on a case to make the phone grippy enough, usable, to protect the very fragile backs and screens, etc.Maybe it's all in the name of fighting for the numbers ("now even thinner!"), for the striking feature ("look, we made a glass phone, like Cinderella's shoe!"), and to motivate you to upgrade since the tiny batteries burn through their allotted charge cycles in maximum 2 years.
name99 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Cases allow people to personalize the design. Thin allows the cases to add a few mm without the result being too thick. Shiny design allows the case to have cutouts at various points (if that's what you want) to show the shininess.None of this is a mystery if your starting point is "what do customers want" rather than "I am smarter than every cellphone company and almost every cell phone buyer, and they are all stupid morons who should care only about what I want".
Peskarik - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
Good comment!philehidiot - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
You do make a good point but I would suggest that making a phone that, by design, needs a case (to the point where it ships with one) is a little excessive. I would also suggest that phone manufacturers should perhaps focus on durability before design and if you want a pretty looking phone you should get a cheaper pretty looking case that can get damaged without costing the earth to replace rather than being almost mandated to get one if you don't want it to shatter on its first interaction with the floor.I'm sure that HTC have gone with what their market research shows and you're probably correct that most people want a pretty phone. Unfortunately these are the same people who walk around with an iPhone with a shattered front / back panel. I would say that the majority of iPhone owners I know have cracks in their devices due to this obsession with glass and "ooh, shiny shiny".
You would not make a car which shattered on its first bump with a lamp post - indeed most cars have cheap, easily replaceable bumpers because it's a known hazard and is easily designed around. Dropping a phone from a height of 5 feet is a known, obvious hazard associated with normal use and they should be designing around this as they would a switch needing to be actuated a certain number of times in it's useful life.
melgross - Friday, May 19, 2017 - link
These phones don't NEED cases. But if you're especially picky about dust, fingerprints, and scratches, get a case. I didn't use a case for my iPhone 6+. And got only one small nick in the two years I got it before trading it in for a 7+, for which I did buy a clear case, but mostly because the case has a small leg you can pop out to see videos and stuff horizontally, which is easier than propping it up on something. I may not keep the case on all the time, eventually.NetMage - Saturday, May 27, 2017 - link
And I would say I've used an iPhone since the first version, always worn them on a belt clip with front glass exposed, dropped more than a few from three - four feet to concrete or asphalt (I don't generally hold them up to my head in the five to six foot range) and has never cracked one, and have rarely (maybe once) ever gotten a scratch on the display. And no one I know has a cracked iPhone, and I have six on my plan alone.mkozakewich - Thursday, May 18, 2017 - link
That would be like saying, "All these coffee-table companies are making sharp corners, but then you have to slap foam on all the sharp edges so that when you smack your head on them you won't kill yourself!"I don't use a case, so I just don't drop my phone. It's been working pretty well for me.
BedfordTim - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I don't understand how the iPhone SE doesn't have a competitor either. With everyone making near identical phones you would think someone would try and differentiate themselves and make a small high spec phone. I know Sony tried but they had a terrible reputation for shattering.Valantar - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Sony's Xperia Compact range are generally excellent alternatives to smaller phones like the iPhone SE. Although they unfortunately degraded the latest model (X Compact) to a mid-range rather than flagship-range (hardware wise) phone, they're still very good - and even with Sony's large bezels (for the Android world) they have bigger screens for the device size than any iPhone. They're a thicker than iPhones, but for a <5" device, I see that as a plus (better ergonomics). I'm just hoping for a follow-up this year with a SD835 or 660 inside that also brings back IP certification (which the X compact somehow lost) - that would make some truly great phones.lmcd - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Despite having a 6-series Snapdragon, the Snapdragon 652 ironically had a better processor than its nearest competitors. 2x (I think, maybe 4x?) A72 cores is nothing to sneeze at, particularly given that Qualcomm is currently shipping 2xA73 (slightly modified) cores as a flagship, and A72 vs A73 is considered, on the whole, as a sidegrade.fanofanand - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
A73 is not a slightly modified A72. The A72 is the successor to the A57, the A73 is from the A9 line. Totally different designs.fanofanand - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Nevermind, I now get you were talking about how kyro is a slightly modified design. Wish there was a delete function. :(philehidiot - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
Dude, always better to just openly admit your mistake than just try and erase it. I have far more respect for people who can admit they don't know but will find out or admit they misunderstood something. One takes balls and leads to personal enrichment, the other is the coward's way out.Manch - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
So you want them to differentiate by copying Apple? :D I want them to go retro. If they can make a phone that thin, they can now put a kb on it.I want a physical KB dangit. I'll pay too. I'll throw my money at them if they make a decent phone with a KB. touch screen kb suck.
Peskarik - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
You can have Kb on S8 Samsung.Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Yep, the rush to large *Android* phones is something of a mystery, when it's clearly not what consumers want. Maybe big phone = big margins?!MrSpadge - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
> when it's clearly not what consumers wantCorrection: when it's clearly not what some consumers want. Many do want the big screens and its benefits. I'm not saying the people wanting smaller phones wouldn't be relvant, but don't forget about the other group either.
Demi9OD - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I think this informative info-graphic explains it well. http://imgur.com/ALMObBvfanofanand - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Best explanation I've seen so far.Ironchef3500 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
exactly, I want a larger screenMeteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I'd love to see phone sales binned by screen size. I think with the iPhone SE and 7 in the mix, sub 5" might come out top. I like 5-5.5" myself.Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Couldn't find sales, but here's usage:https://deviceatlas.com/blog/most-used-phone-scree...
Seems that <5" has half, if not a little more, of the market. So it's weird that no-one but Sony makes Android phones that compete in half the market.
Perhaps if Apple made the SE and the non-Plus models 5" everyone would just buy them regardless. But the SE users I know bought theirs specifically for the trimmer sizes (all women, incidentally).
shadarlo - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
You realize small, cheap phones sell because of their price. The ultra value end of the phone industry is of course the largest market and a larger screen costs a few bucks more which is a large margin on such a cut-rate phone that costs <$50-100 or is given away free.People don't say, damn... I wish I had a smaller screen! They say damn, I wish I had more money for a nicer phone.
ummduh - Friday, May 19, 2017 - link
Indeed. It's literally the only reason we have one in my household. My son wanted an iPhone, but being pretty hard on phones we got him the cheapest one we could get until he proves he can be responsible with it. He HATES how small it is. Wife has a 6S+, daughter has a 6S, I have a Note. I don't see the "everyone wants a smaller phone".. I don't know anyone that does.BrokenCrayons - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Yup, it'd be nice to see smaller screens on smaller phones getting higher end specifications, but I think Anandtech's phone reviews present a skewed view of the mobile market. The site naturally gets vendor information for flagship products and passes that information along to readers, but less profitable mass market devices aren't as exciting, don't generate as much profit, and therefore don't get much attention from reviewers like AT. Fortunately, if you're not seeking high-end specs beneath a small screen, you can do pretty well by just diving to the cheap rack when it comes to picking up a handset. Two weeks ago I finally replaced an ancient single core, 3.2" screen LG Optimus V with a $30 USD Alcatel Pixi Unite and I'm relatively satisfied with the purchase. It's got 1GB of RAM, 8GB storage, a MicroSD slot, a 4 inch 480x800 screen, all powered by a 1.3GHz A7 quad with a user-replacable battery. It's good enough for light mobile computing and a lot more capable than my old Optimus (though I did end up disabling a lot of Google preloaded crapware and I'm disappointed I can't root the thing so I can delete the .apks for stuff I don't want like Google search, Hangouts, the Movie Player thingy, and other totally creep-show data mining stuff). Paired with my bluetooth keyboard and game controller, it's a much better lightweight PC replacement than the LG. Anyhow, if your needs are reasonable, a cheap phone will get the job done, fit in pockets and handbags instead of hip holsters that make you look like a techno-dork, and save you a bucket of money since handsets aren't subsidized these days.goatfajitas - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
"the rush to large *Android* phones is something of a mystery"- Not sure what you mean there. 5.2 to 5.5 inch phones seem to be what is selling well. Even Apple sells loads of 5.5 inch iPhones and Apple 5.5 inch screen phones are as large as other manufacturers 6+ inch phones.
Fiernaq - Monday, May 22, 2017 - link
5.2 to 5.5 is large. The only reason I have a 5.2 phone is because smaller phones don't come with as good internals. I want a nice, thick 5" phone with a big battery and flagship components but nobody makes one.shadarlo - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
Large phones are exactly what I and everyone I know wants. I actually have never met a single person in the real world who says "I want a small phone". Seriously. I wonder where these people exist except for online tech forums...mrochester - Sunday, May 21, 2017 - link
My partner and mum and dad all wanted small phones that were pocketable. They all have 5S/SEs.lowlymarine - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
"I don't understand how come one of the best selling phones in the world (iPhone 7) doesn't have a similar sized competitor in the Android world."It does, though. The massive bezels on the iPhone make it much closer in size to something like the Galaxy S7 than you might think. See http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/phones/9815,...
Mil0 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
If you want smaller check out the Sony X compact - actually pretty comparable to the iPhone 7 in a lot of metrics (screen size/resolution, weight).The S8 is actually only 1mm wider than the iPhone 7 - arguably the metric that affects usage most I'd say (though I have pretty big hands and am waiting for a manufacturer other than Samsung to create a big phone with small bezels)
WPX00 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Because to the Android OEM, the words "under 5 inches" and "flagship" are dirty words you should never speak in the same sentence.Peskarik - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
Case is not for protection from braking, case is for protection from scratching, which is important if you want to sell on.Gasaraki88 - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
It's a clear case. You can still look at it, ok?yankeeDDL - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I have been using my new S8 for about one month now. I don't think I will ever consider a phone with "large" top and bottom bezels.The day-to-day experience is incredible on the new phone, and a look at the U11 is sufficient to label it "irrelevant", for me.
My first smartphone was an HTC Sensation. I really enjoyed it, but six year later HTC's phones look almost the same.
Ironchef3500 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
+1 have the GS8+, does not feel that large. All you guys must have tiny hands.....Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Tiny pockets!doggface - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Probably the skinny jeans.I used to fit a nexus 7 in my pocket. But those were some baggy jeans
WorldWithoutMadness - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Typo ?Qualcomm Snapdragon 835
2x Kryo 280 Perf @ 2.45 GHz
2x Kryo 280 Eff @ 1.90 GHz
Adreno 530 @ 653 MHz
SD835 is 8 cores (4+4) right?
Trixanity - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
And Adreno 540. And Bluetooth 5.Ryan Smith - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Thanks! Corrected.Vatharian - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Daaaaamn! Forget the squeeze, it looks good. So good in fact, that despite me being absolutely angry at HTC for donning 3.5mm jack, I'm tempted to get in the queue for one. Shame on HTC for not going qi this time... again.Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I don't get their 'waiting for wireless tech to get better' line; Qi works.Eri Hyva - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
And Quick Charge 4.0, not 3.0Ryan Smith - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
HTC's own spec sheet says 3.0.Eri Hyva - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
OK, that would be a first for a 835 flagshipRyan Smith - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
It's quite possibly wrong, but for now we're going with the official specs until we can confirm otherwise.Trixanity - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
From what I understand Qualcomm has had some issues with QC4 hence the current crop of SD835 devices are QC3 only. I'm not sure if software can do anything as I'm not sure if the necessary hardware is there (such as the latest power IC) or if the hardware has been delayed until now. They recently announced availability of QC4 but that doesn't help phones already in production.Eri Hyva - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Really? With Galaxy S8, too?Trixanity - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Neither S7 or S8 have support for QC3 even. They rely on proprietary Samsung fast charging tech but do have support for QC2 (I guess it's for third party accessories mainly).So S8: QC2 + Samsung fast charging. HTC U11, Sony Xperia XZ Premium and Xiaomi Mi 6 have QC3. How Samsung's fast charging stacks up vs QC, Dash Charge etc I don't know.
Xajel - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Well, I'm sorry about the 3.5mm...I personally hates changes specially for things we're used to use/do. but sometimes changes are required to move forward. like the change from 32bit to 64bit OS, change from pre-Android/iOS to these two guys. change from microUSB to Type-C. as long as these changes done in the right way.
but with current removal of 3.5mm jack there's a lot in stack.
1- Type-C headphones are nearly non-exists.
2- Type-C headphones will mean no way to charge the phone.
3- Using regular 3.5mm will mean an adapter required.
4- Charging and using the headphone will always require an adapter which we should carry also. and there's no adapter for this kind of usage -yet-.
5- Wireless Bluetooth headphones doesn't allow lossless audio streaming. the available technologies (AptX, AptX HD & LDAC) are all proprietary (Qualcomm & Sony) and you can't see them everywhere so you can't depend on one, there's very little AptX HD headphones, and while most HiRes Sony headphones support LDAC they lack support for AptX HD.. thankfully Android O will support all these.. but this is only Android. what about iOS, Windows, macOS ?
The point is, no adapter is available now which will make us continue the usage of our phone the way we're used to do. I believe charging cables should have a Type-C + 3.5mm port somewhere in the middle or some how. we will have to live in a transition period where we're forced to either charge or listen.
Damn you Apple, you started this shit.
whiteiphoneproblems - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Moto did it first(?) Anyway, other OEMs didn't *have* to follow anyone... if you don't like HTC doing it, it's on them. Vote with your wallet, I guess!drexnx - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
this isn't the first time for HTC - I guess people have blocked out the painful memory of ExtUSB headphone jacks on the G1/Magiczodiacfml - Monday, May 22, 2017 - link
It is due to many smartphone users don't use the jack which justifies the move.There is nothing we can do for now but to refuse such devices without one.
UtilityMax - Monday, May 22, 2017 - link
Where do you get such statistics?philehidiot - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
I would imagine he's correct. I personally use the 3.5mm jack a lot but my girlfriend never touches hers. HTC (and all phone manufacturers) collect detailed usage data and I'm sure that when they started considering the worth of the 3.5mm jack they started collecting data on when it was connected. I can't imagine that they would be quite so daft as to do this on a "general feeling" about the market, copying Apple or even just surveys when they could quite easily gather real world usage data. They know it'll lose them some customers (mad when they spent so much time on the audio of the HTC 10) but I'm sure they balanced this out by quite simply working out the amount of time media was played through speakers Vs the headphone jack, realised they could vastly improve speaker sound (supposedly with the bigger resonance chamber allowed for by the missing jack) and decided that was better.Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
There's a lot to like here. I like how HTC continually innovate. They have the best microphones and speakers, and that body styling is the nicest I've seen.But personally those dimensions are too big for me; over 150x70mm and it starts to get uncomfortable in pockets. Those top and bottom bezels are just too big. If only there was a phone combining Samsung's tech with HTC's styling and audio...
I hope it sells well because the world of mobile devices would be poorer without HTC.
vladx - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Indeed, any phone above 15cm is out of the question for me as well.jjj - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
HTC truly deserves to go under.They remove the audio jack for no reason at all, aside from crippling their own device.You would think that trying the same with the microSD was a sufficient lesson.
Their main problem for years has been design, they just make ugly phones and they did it again. It's shinny but bulky as hell and with an atrocious home button.
The squeeze gimmick is pointless. somehow HTC keep going backwards since the One in 2013.
Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I can't remember the last time I plugged wired speakers or headphones into a device. Bluetooth all the way. I was just sick of snagging cables or having to untangle them all the time.TheinsanegamerN - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Most people I know still use wired. Wireless is too prone to problems, has poor battery life, and has overall lower quality, which is really noticeable when the speaker is right next to your ear.lmcd - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Let me know when aptV-enabled bluetooth headphones of reasonable quality and battery life are available for $100.lmcd - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
*aptX wrong rarely-used consonantTams80 - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
Good for you?Mainly I don't want to have to charge yet another device. It's gotten ridiculous as it is. Audio quality is lower over bluetooth, and there is a delay that I don't like when watching videos.
bogda - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Having 3.5mm jack does not prevent you from going bluetooth all the way. But it bothers me seeing that this trend of canceling useful features is picking up the steam. I have a set of headphones everywhere I use the phone (in the office, in bedroom, at work desk at home and quite expensive noisecanceling in my bag for travel).I am about to upgrade my smartphone these days and this trend just took iPhone and HTC out of my purchase consideration.
AnnonymousCoward - Thursday, May 18, 2017 - link
100% agreeshinjitsu - Thursday, May 18, 2017 - link
"They remove the audio jack for no reason at all, aside from crippling their own device." Have you heard the new Boomsound on the U 11? They supposedly are using the body of the phone to act as a resonance chamber. So perhaps they have a reason, and until we see a breakdown of the device, who knows.beginner99 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
good: seems to have physical/capacitive buttonsbad: no 3.5 mm
Gunbuster - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
All that screen bezel makes this an instant dinosaur. Vacuum metalized glass is not going to do it no matter how much it looks like a gun my dinobot transformer used to have.Tams80 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Yes, because an almost non-existent bevel automatically makes a phone better.Not.
Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Um, I'd say it does. It makes it smaller for the size of the screen, and smaller is better.TheinsanegamerN - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
if smaller is better, get a smaller phone. Get rid of bezels, and there is no way to hold the thing unless you have giant hands.Tams80 - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
Considering no one has produced decent touch rejection (and stupidly used on-screen buttons), plus the increased fragility of thin bezels; I'm going to go with no, all is not better.fanofanand - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
All-glass phone needs a case. Can't use a case because the entire premise of the phone is the squeeze. What a dumb product. I LOVE the specs but how foolish could they be?Meteor2 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Squeeze uses strain gauges (nothing actually moves) so unless you're using something like an Otterbox it'll work in a case.edzieba - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Now the phone itself can inform you that you're holding it wrong!SunnyNW - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Can you not mimic a lot of the "squeeze" functionality with force/3d touch?Jumangi - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
So ah this isn't just some late April fools joke?Yikes HTC...
mayankleoboy1 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Doesnt the SD835 support Quick Charge 4.0 ?Despoiler - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Qualcomm pulled QC4.0 from use I believe.Ian Cutress - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Officially. But HTC U11 only supports QC3Chaser - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I wish the very best for HTC. They are under tough competition from Samsung and Apple.Tams80 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Ugh, yet another rather samey phone. Phones have become so boring, with very few features to really differentiate them. Even the design elements aren't really that different (yes, a curved display isn't that different; it's a display that's slightly curved).The 'squeeve' 'buttons' are the only really interesting thing about this, but at least they are something that I would consider different. It's a shame that's about all.
NetMage - Sunday, May 28, 2017 - link
And what would you put on a new phone to be innovative?jrs77 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Why can't we have nice phones with 4" anymore. All the phones, even the so called mini versions, are all too big for me to comfortably handle in one hand.Some 12x6 cm is the maximum to handle and to fit comfortably into the pocket of my trousers.
Make the phone a little thicker if it's about the battery-capacity. No problems there with a phone being 15mm thick, it also makes the whole damn thing more rigid and not as fragile.
Well, I guess aslong as it doesn't die and I get replacement batteries I'll stick to my Lumia 520 forever.
dstarr3 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
I just want a physical keyboard back. Like the Blackberry Priv. Except good.TheinsanegamerN - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
we need a true droid 5lmcd - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Honestly if someone did a Kickstarter I'm sure it'd fund.vladx - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Great specs but the design is disappointingly poor. It's too bad but I don't see it becoming a success.webdoctors - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Recently went to Taiwan and shocked at the number of Chinese brand cellphones everyone was using. They're extremely prevalent there due to retail store also being there like Oppo, LeEco, Lenovo, ZTE, etc.My buddy was a principal engineer at HTC for 5+ years and jumped ship. They're products are vanilla now but they still charge a premium over Chinese phones using similar screens, chips and cameras. They also underpay their staff compared to Samsung/LG. Samsung has a bigger market share in Taiwan than HTC, not good if you can't win on your home turf.
StrangerGuy - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Yup, I haven't seen a HTC phone in the wild for ages now, because why buy underspecced and overpriced garbage running a commodity OS?mxnerd - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
It's $649 at Amazonhttps://www.amazon.com/HTC-U11-Factory-Unlocked-Br...
DanD85 - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Lame battery, lame gimmicky touchy function that no dev gonna use (if 3d touch fail to catch on, what chance does htc has?) and more importantly unrealistic price. Seems like HTC still fails to get it, their name can't command such a price. I wonder how long they can resist the inevitable though!ClockHound - Tuesday, May 16, 2017 - link
Well... ex-squeeeeze me. I want to like this, the M9 was my main squeeze, but the insistence for AI assistants is creeping me out. Might wait for the U12 Squish 'n Squeeze Edition.mxnerd - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
If you preorder at HTC.com now and apply coupon code LOVEU11, ONLY4U11, or JUST4U11, you get $50 off and HTC 11 will cost only $599http://www.androidauthority.com/htc-u11-50-off-cou...
Peskarik - Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - link
I like HTC, had quite a few models, currently HTC10, very happy with it. The new one...same small battery, but no 3.5 and bigger? Why? I like 3.5 because I listen to music while biking, now would need to get another connector. Also with bigger screen the phone will die sooner, given the same sized battery. HTC you fail to impress, you fail to progress, pity.shinjitsu - Thursday, May 18, 2017 - link
This one has the SD835 chipset, which has better power efficiency. Just check out the reviews for Samsung S8 vs. S7. Bigger screen size than the previous generation, but still better battery life.http://www.tomsguide.com/us/galaxy-s8,review-4287....
Despoiler - Friday, May 19, 2017 - link
The only failure is your level of knowledge. shinjitsu covered the battery life. It's resolution jumps not screen size that causes the most power usage increase. More pixel = more power from the GPU having to work more. As the resolution is the same as the HTC 10 the increase in power by screen size is negligible. Also, they include a USB C to 3.5mm cable in the box.deskjob - Monday, May 22, 2017 - link
I agree the lack of the 3.5mm plug is a downer. However, HTC is including with the U 11 a USB-C to 3.5 converter that actually has an embedded hi-res DAC. This is intriguing because it's not a cheap and simple USB-C to 3.5mm dongle. The integrated DAC allows it to be used with other phones too.UtilityMax - Monday, May 22, 2017 - link
So now I have to buy an external USB dongle for every set of my headphones (for gym, home, etc), because I am sure I will forget to carry the dongle on me on the time.bogda - Tuesday, May 23, 2017 - link
Max, target audience for this phone is obviously not active people that go to gym.I actually do not know who are the target audience for this phone.
If you care about the looks you will probably be bothered by the big size. Design seems to appeal to females but it is too big for their hands.
It seems to me that idea was to be different and to impress technology challenged customers in the showroom.
deskjob - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
bogda, I think the target audience for this phone is the same as the other flagships.For tech savvy types like us, it's the 835 SOC, what appears to be pretty decent camera and the 24bit audio support.
For the less tech savvy, it's being waterproof at IP67, the pretty glass exterior, and the squeeze function that's at the moment novel. For example, I'd set it to trigger camera/shot, so that under water or when snowboarding I can easily take a shot without removing gear/gloves.
For the audio nerds/philes like me, it's the 24bit audio support, and the USB-C to 3.5mm dongle with built-in DAC, the included USB-C headphone with active noise cancellation, and the improved external speakers using the chassis as the resonance chamber.
It's not perfect, but then again no phone is. I prefer metal/high quality plastic as chassis material for durability, but the current trend is glass so oh well... don't drop 'em!
philehidiot - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
I seem to remember reading somewhere that whilst a standard USB-C to 3.5mm dongle will be included, the one with the posh DAC will be an optional extra and only "available", not in the box.I expect this will weigh heavily on some purchase considerations.
deskjob - Wednesday, May 24, 2017 - link
Yeah I know, I am not defending the removal of the 3.5mm plug. I think it's a dumbass move.It appears they claim to have used the extra space for better built-in speakers (whole chassis as resonance chamber), and reviews everywhere so far back this up, saying it's louder with fuller freq response compared to the HTC 10 and rest of the flagship devices.
I wish they'd kept the 3.5mm plug, though.
AnnonymousCoward - Thursday, May 18, 2017 - link
Phones of the future will have hard rubber built into the body, to give all the protective durability without the extra bulk.UtilityMax - Monday, May 22, 2017 - link
I like the idea of answering a call or launching camera to take picture with just one-handed action, so the squeeze concept does seem interesting, but the lack of headphone jack is a disappointment. Apple does have enough clout to force users to buy its expensive wireless earbuds, but what's in it for companies like HTC? I don't know.oranos - Thursday, May 25, 2017 - link
HTC doesnt have enough market share to be trying these crazy ideasGerstorff1990 - Tuesday, June 6, 2017 - link
Hoping to pick this up sometime. Not too big on the squeeze since I use cases, but I love HTC phones.hakobaron - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - link
best design i ever seen ... htc one of my favorite phones companyc_giby - Wednesday, June 7, 2017 - link
It's exciting to see a unique new smart phone from HTC. The internals are more or less the same as any other Android flagship but the design is different, like the Eris.oranos - Tuesday, June 13, 2017 - link
ha ha ha. its like girlfriend. you squeeze.Jaap95 - Sunday, November 12, 2017 - link
HiI´m owning an HTC U11 and unfortunately this device is not compliant in my country. In order to be approved, I need technical information (specially the FCC ID of this device). Does anyone know how or where to find this information?. I have tried to touch base with HTC but I have no answer.
Any tip would be appreciated
Regards